Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Off the Map Travel tailors bespoke adventures to the Northern Lights for the definitive traveler

THE
EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME STARTS NOW

“For
thousands of years, the Northern Lights have captured the imagination of
cultures across the world which has influenced folklore and religion. It really
is another worldly experience.”-
Jonny Cooper, Director of Off the Map Travel and Northern Lights travel expert

What if you could
bask in the glory of the Aurora Borealis in a way that is tailored, especially
for you? The spectacular display of the Northern Lights that have captured the
hearts and made its way into the wish-list of many around the world can now be
a highly bespoke experience, catering to various interests and personalities.

Curated by Off the
Map Travel, the UK-based travel specialist has been helping travelers check off
this Arctic journey from their bucket list since 2011. What sets Off the Map
Travel apart from the rest is their unwavering forte in creating unique,
soft-adventure travel experience surrounding the stunning Northern Lights, all
done via Bjorkliden,
Sweden – an authentic and stunning destination
from which to capture the stunning spectacle of the Northern Lights.

Jonny Cooper, Director
of Off the Map and Northern Lights travel expert, said: “We are still at a very
positive point of the solar cycle which drives Northern Lights displays with
the vast majority of our guests last season experiencing the Northern Light at
least once during their visit. This season we have added new opportunities for
our guests and developed a number of exciting ways to experience and engage
with the Aurora. We believe there is something new for everyone.”

"It was an excellent trip overall and we
managed to tick a few items off the bucket list. I especially enjoyed the full
arctic day of ice-fishing and snow mobile experience. The Ice Hotel visit was
great too. Off the Map Travel is very responsive and all arrangements were made
in good order.” said Lu Ting Ting, Off The Map Travel customer
who travelled to Bjrokliden, Narvik and Tromso in March 2015.

With an
ever-increasing demand for Northern Lights holidays, Off the Map Travel’s
experts have worked closely with some of the world’s best Aurora tourism
destinations to create a range of new opportunities to allow travelers to
experience the greatest light show on earth.

Some of the new bespoke
adventures take root in Bjorkliden, Sweden, one of the world’s best kept secrets
when it comes to a Northern Lights travel. Dubbed one of Europe’s last true
wilderness, the Bjorkliden region is transformed in the winter into a snow
covered wonderland, a key highlight for the Arctic region. The surrounding
mountains create a weather shadow which delivers clearer skies than other areas
of the Lapland, making it a perfect spot for the Northern Lights.

“It was seeing the
Northern Lights in Swedish Lapland that first captured my imagination about the
Aurora, and we have now made it our mission to work with amazing destinations
and help create the best possible opportunities for guests to experience the
Northern Lights. Unlike others, we not only test out every place and experience
we offer guests, but also work closely with them to continually develop and
improve what they offer to give our guests the best possible Northern Lights
holiday.” adds Jonny Cooper, Director of
Off the Map Travel and Northern Lights travel expert.

Some of the bespoke travel itineraries
include:

The
Aurora Festival

Where:
Bjorkliden, Sweden

What: Aurora experts from around the globe are being gathered
to celebrate and share their knowledge about the Aurora with enthusiasts from a
scientific, historic and mythological standpoint. Thought to be the world’s first
Aurora Festival, guests will get hands on with experiments; learn how experts
predict Aurora displays; learn from locals about how the Aurora has shaped the
culture in the Arctic; and experience the Aurora through a variety of Arctic
activities.

A three day two night The
Aurora Festival itinerary in Bijorkliden, Northern Sweden, with Off the Map
Travel costs from £899 (Approx. SGD$1950); excluding flights. This includes
full board accommodation in four star accommodation; a welcome (invite only)
reception, expert talks throughout the weekend with world class speakers; an
excursion to Sweden’s highest mountain lodge; an expert aurora photography
course; an arctic experience and Sami experience at the Aurora Village.
Additional nights and activities can be added.

What: The Aurora Village is made up of a
collection of three traditional Swedish ice-fishing huts that are placed on the
banks of a remote frozen lake during the winter months in the mountains
surrounding the world famous Northern Lights region of Bjorkliden and Abisko.

The huts, which are
traditionally used by ice-fisherman in the region during the Arctic Winter,
have uninterrupted 180° views of the greatest light show on earth and make a
great base from which your guide can cook Arctic bush delicacies.

A four-night trip to
Bjorkliden and Abisko in northern Sweden costs from £1,399 (Approx. SGD $3030) per
person on a full-board basis with accommodation for three nights in a four-star
hotel and one night in the Aurora Village on a frozen lake with 180-degree
uninterrupted views. Price includes a Lights Over Lapland photography trip,
dogsledding and snowmobiling for two adults; flights excluded.

What: This is the ultimate Aurora adventure taking
guests on an epic chase of the Northern Lights across Scandinavia visiting
world famous Aurora spotting destinations across Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Guests will have the chance to do everything from reindeer and dog sledding;
snowmobiling; visiting the ICEHOTEL; to the chance to learn Aurora photography
with a world renowned photographer on their way.

A ten night small group guided Original Grand Aurora tour with Off the Map
Travel costs £5999 (Approx.SGD$13,000) per person not including flights based
on 2 sharing. The Grand Aurora includes an expert guide, accommodation on a
half board basis, reindeer sledding, a Tromso guided city walk, Northern Lights
dinner cruise, an Arctic experience, Alaska trapper dogsledding tour, Lights
Over Lapland Aurora and photography evening, Aurora Sky Station exclusive
dinner trip, a visit to the ICEHOTEL, a three border point snowmobile trip,
Northern Lights tour in a snowmobile-pulled sled and a reindeer and culture
tour as well as lots of exclusive extras such as meals in fantastic restaurants
and fika stops on travel days.

What:
The Moonlight Aurora
experience was created by Aurora travel experts to give guests an alternative
experience in hunting the Northern Lights – under an Arctic full moon. Contrary
to popular belief, many Aurora experts from leading guides to world class
photographers, believe that the full-moon enhances the Northern Lights rather
than detracting from it.The Moonlight Aurora
experience is designed to also give guests the chance to enjoy a range of Arctic
winter activities under the full-moon whist having the best possible chance of
experiencing the Northern Lights.

A four night Moonlight
Aurora adventure to Bjorkliden and Abisko in Northern Sweden with Off the Map
Travel (www.offthemaptravel.co.uk) costs from £1749 (Approx. SGD$ 3800) per
person, excluding flights, based on two sharing. This includes transfers, four
nights in a spectacular 4 star hotel on a full board basis, a private
specialist guide, a visit to the ICEHOTEL, private Lights over Lapland
moonlight photography tour, dog sledding as the moon rises, visit to the Aurora
Sky Station, Snowmobile tour, guided moonlit snowshoe walk, Norway fjord trip
and Ice fishing and cooking under the moon.

Off the Map Travel is a soft
adventure travel agency and Northern Lights expert that works with experiences
and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of our planet.
They create tailor-made holiday itineraries.